Catenaa, Friday, July 18, 2025– President Donald Trump is preparing an executive order to allow cryptocurrency, gold, private equity, and other alternative assets into 401(k) retirement plans, according to the Financial Times, citing sources briefed on the plan.
If signed, the order would direct regulators to examine barriers preventing the inclusion of such investments in professionally managed retirement accounts.
The move follows a trend of federal agencies relaxing their stance on digital assets.
In May, the Department of Labor reversed prior guidance that warned against adding crypto to retirement portfolios, framing the original caution as Biden-era “regulatory overreach.”
The proposal builds on earlier legislative attempts, including the 2022 Retirement Savings Modernization Act introduced by Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Mich., which failed to advance in Congress.
That bill sought to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to allow for a broader range of investment options, including digital assets and private equity.
Roughly $8.7 trillion is currently held in 401(k) plans across the United States, according to the Investment Company Institute.
Trump’s potential order could significantly shift the retirement landscape, as more states begin to experiment with crypto holdings.
Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina have disclosed or proposed digital asset allocations in state-managed retirement funds, signaling growing institutional interest.
If enacted, the executive order would align with Trump’s broader push to position the U.S. as a global leader in digital finance and alternative asset integration.
